Chapter 8 #2
"It was arranged that Anne was to marry Anthony. By the time Thomas returned and learned of it, it was too late.”
The heir to Crofts banking, the oldest son, a twin by less than an hour, had married the woman Thomas was in love with. In a very real sense, his father had betrayed him, sending him abroad on 'business.'
“He left Crofts over the situation, as you can well imagine.”
“What of the relationship between the brothers?”
“When they were young, it seemed they were quite close. Thomas spoke of several occasions when they used their likeness to fool others, including Lady Ellsworth.
“She was on to their schemes, however. It seems that Thomas had a particular mark that he was born with on the inside of his left wrist that he used to cover up when they were attempting to pull a prank on someone.
“But as time went on, the relationship became quite difficult, and there was a definite estrangement between them.”
“The usual rivalry?” I suggested.
“I suppose it had more to do with their father. Sir Robert was always setting the two against one another, competing over everything and then deferring to Anthony.
“Then to lose the woman he loved to his brother...” There was no need to explain further.
“It must have been difficult seeing his brother with her.”
“I know that it was, and particularly difficult when Anne died the year past in a tragic accident.”
A difficult relationship with his twin brother. Used by their father as a pawn. To lose the woman he loved to his brother, and lose her all over again in an accident. An argument between the brothers that last night. Now, Thomas was dead.
“Have you learned anything that might lead to finding who killed him?” he then asked of the inquiries I was making.
“It has been difficult. I hoped to speak with Sir Anthony, but my requests to meet with him have gone unanswered. They met that last day before he joined you for supper. Did he mention anything about that?”
“I was aware that they met. It did seem that it was all business, as Thomas was still a minority owner in Crofts by way of Lady Eugenia, who insisted upon it years before.
“He commented that Anthony was the same and would never change. He simply said—not for the first time—that he had made the right decision to pursue the law instead of taking a position with Crofts and being dependent on what he called his brother’s charity.”
“I was told that they shared a townhouse,” I commented, something I now found hard to believe after what he had shared with me.
“That was after Anne’s death. It was my understanding that Anthony preferred to be nearer his social club. It was a scheme put up by their father. Thomas bowed out of the arrangement and let a flat that was closer to the law offices.
“I did go to his flat afterward,” he continued.
By ‘afterward’ he obviously meant after the robbery and murder of his friend.
“There were photographs he had from our Musketeer exploits. I thought to add them to the ones I have, they would have been of no interest to anyone else. The flat at Kensington had been locked up. A caretaker told me that it was to be cleared out. That was the week past.” He made a request to Sir Robert Ellsworth.
“I have not received word as yet.”
That did seem to be a common affliction among others in the family. I did wonder what that might tell me, and made a mental note of the location.
I thanked him for meeting with me. When I insisted on paying for the meal, he heartily refused.
“Not at all, Lady Forsythe. I am aware of your success in other inquiries and hope there might be a resolution in this dreadful situation. Thomas was a good man and friend. If I can be of any further assistance, do not hesitate to call on me.” He handed me his calling card in parting.
After meeting with Edward Baldwin, I had a much clearer understanding of his friend Ellsworth. The younger twin, who was set aside by their father, had lived his entire life in his brother’s shadow, and then lost the young woman he loved as well.
Athos, the noble but serious member of Alexandre Dumas’s Musketeers, with the secretive nature.
I could only imagine the anger and frustration he had experienced in conflict with his brother, continuously overlooked by their father even though he was only younger by merely minutes. The pain of losing the woman he hoped to marry to that brother.
I thought of Brodie then. Certainly, by most standards, we should never have met, much less married. It simply did not happen!
It was not the first time that I was reminded of what I considered absurd rules of society. My sister had married ‘outside of her social class’ as well, to James Warren after a disastrous first marriage.
As our great-aunt had once said with great wisdom, “Damn them all with their opinions. A title means nothing if the character of the person is lacking. And it will certainly not prevent them from coming round with their hands out, their investment schemes, or funding for some monument. I will continue to support children’s charities and schools, far worthier causes. ”
Upon leaving the tavern, I directed the driver to Kensington and the red stone building where Sir Thomas Ellsworth had taken a flat at Albert Court.
It was a newer three-story building with a secure main foyer at the entrance, under an overhead sign that informed that one had arrived at Albert Court.
What might the flat tell me about Sir Thomas if it was possible to gain entrance?
Anything that might reveal his intentions that last night?
A journal perhaps? Or note that he’d made earlier about meeting someone after he parted company with Edward Baldwin?
Personal mementos? The photographs Edward had spoken of?
Obtaining access might be easily done, I thought, and made a mental note to contact Mr. Dooley with the MET. He had been able to ‘arrange’ certain things in the past.
I returned to the office. Mr. Cavendish rolled out from the alcove, looking quite dapper. I complimented him on his appearance. He frowned.
“Miss Effie has the day away from the Public House and is of a mind to take supper at Covent Garden this evening. I explained that I might be needed here, but she isn’t havin’ any of it.”
“Of course,” I replied. “She works long hours and is entitled to an evening out and about.”
He winced. “The tie is bothersome.”
He had managed to loosen it to the point that it dangled about his neck.
“Never could understand the purpose of the things. Now it’s come undone and I’m to meet her with the coachman. She says she won’t walk over nor have me rolling along the distance.”
I could well see her point.
“If I may, I can assist with the tie,” I suggested.
“I would be sorely grateful, Miss Forsythe. She was fussed up about the damned thing earlier and will have a fit and fall in the middle of it if she sees what’s happened to the poor thing.”
There was no mention, of course, that he was the one who had wrestled the poor thing.
It was easily done, the hound sitting beside at the sidewalk, taking everything in. I stepped back.
“That’s right fine, miss.”
“Miss Effie will never know that it was undone.”
He nodded. “Will you be working late, miss?”
I had notes to make along with a telephone call to make to Mr. Dooley regarding the flat in Kensington.”
“I won’t be late.”
He nodded. “The lad can stay. Miss Effie might object to him following us to Covent Garden.”
I did understand. “Do have a very pleasant evening, and give my regards to Miss Effie.” It was amusing that with all the time they had known one another and now married, he still called her ‘Miss Effie,’ albeit with obvious affection.
I whistled sharply, as I had learned as a child with my father’s hunting hounds, and we made for the lift.